Policy & Governance

Education Department: Democrats demand reasons for mass layoffs

Three congressional leaders want to know how tworkforce reductions reflect Education Secretary Linda McMahon's commitment to efficiency.

21 states challenge mass layoffs at Department of Education

Coalition of Democratic attorneys general warn in a new lawsuit that the Trump Administration's plan to close the Department of Education is 'reckless and illegal.'

Here are the latest changes to this loan forgiveness program

President Donald Trump issued an executive order that limits which nonprofit organizations qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness based on whether they participate in "illegal" or "harmful" activities.

Here’s what K12 can expect from its new education secretary

Linda McMahon's confirmation is a "last chance" effort to restore American values that made education great. Here's how she plans to do it.

This is what the latest K12 book bans block out

K12 book bans cut across grades and genres and frequently target a handful of specific topics, according to the latest PEN America analysis.

Teachers mount a challenge with DEI deadline looming

The American Federation of Teachers has sued the Trump administration over its efforts to drive diversity, equity and inclusion programs out of schools.

Satisfaction with public education takes big fall in annual poll

But K12 leaders might take (a little) solace that they're not alone—Americans' overall satisfaction levels have hit a record low. 

Here are 4 big ways McMahon sees Education Department changing

Linda McMahon, President Trump's pick for the Department of Education, hinted at several ways she plans to lead the agency during her confirmation hearing last week.

Don’t worry, most funding won’t vanish with education department

District leaders shouldn't worry about big cuts to school funding, experts say. Here's what you should expect instead.

More districts detail how to deal with immigration enforcement

Many districts leaders are recommitting to providing safe spaces for students in the wake of the Trump administration's decision to allow law enforcement to search for undocumented students or staff in school buildings.

Navigating new school choice: Federal directives and state expansions

Even the best-laid plans for school choice can’t compete with strong and supportive relationships between your team and families. So, stay flexible and stay informed.

Reports: Trump now ready to dismantle Department of Education

Multiple reports warn that President Donald Trump is preparing an executive order to impose severe cutbacks on the U.S. Department of Education and eventually shut the agency down.

Trump moves to expand school choice, root out ‘indoctrination’

In a pair of executive orders, President Donald Trump launched an effort to reshape K12 education.

Book bans: New Department of Ed is axing complaints

Amidst a record-breaking surge in bans, the Trump administration's Office of Civil Rights calls the complaints a "hoax"

Office of Civil Rights was very busy under Biden

The Department of Education received a record number of civil rights complaints three years in a row under former president Joe Biden's administration.

A school voucher program in Texas is more likely than ever. Can lawmakers craft a bill they agree on?

School voucher advocates in Texas are entering next year’s legislative session with better odds than ever of passing a measure that would let parents use public money to pay for their kids’ private schooling. But first, lawmakers will have to agree on what the program looks like.

Opinion: Is Ohio’s school voucher experiment panning out?

Having innovative options for families that want a niche offering could help them learn and could create new learning opportunities for students that did not exist before. That being said, it seems like the experiment of school vouchers in Ohio may have swung a bit far.

Blaming schools deflects attention from the real problem with property taxes

The Wisconsin Policy Forum recently reported that property tax bills mailed out to Wisconsin taxpayers this month will show the biggest tax increase from a previous year since 2009.

Ohio House passes bill that could cause expelled students to undergo a psychiatric assessment

The Ohio House passed a bill that would allow school districts to create a policy to expel a student that poses an “imminent and severe endangerment” to the safety of other students or school staff for 180 school days, and possibly longer.

What does Trump have in mind for K12 education?

Will the U.S. Department of Education be dismantled? Or does Trump's proposal ring hollow? Tune into this story as we provide updates in the months leading up to his first day in office.

Education policy: How it will shift under new administration

If appointed secretary of education, Linda McMahon’s tenure is likely to emphasize workforce development, parental rights and a decentralization of federal education oversight.

Republican bill to end the Department of Education introduced

The bill aims to end the Department of Education, and redistribute federal programs to other existing departments. But the biggest change would be allocating K12 education money directly to the states via block grants.

Massachusetts student’s punishment for AI use can stand, U.S. judge rules

U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Levenson in Boston on Wednesday ruled, opens new tab that officials at Hingham High School reasonably concluded that the use of the AI tool by Jennifer and Dale Harris' son to complete a class project violated academic integrity rules.

Trump likely to expand ‘school choice,’ a longstanding conservative goal

Experts say Trump stands a good chance of winning a tax break for programs that help pay for private tuition. That approach would not steer federal dollars directly to private schools but would still amount to a significant development in a decades-long fight over education.

Fewer kids are going to California public schools. Is there a right way to close campuses?

Declining enrollment, the end of pandemic relief grants and state budget uncertainty have combined to put hundreds of California school districts in precarious financial straits. For some districts, closing schools may be the only way to avoid the state seizing control of operations.

This state has banned the most books. Here’s a complete list

Florida banned the most books from schools during the 2023-2024 school year. The state has now released a list of all the titles removed.

Federal judge blocks Louisiana law that requires classrooms to display Ten Commandments

A new Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public classrooms is “unconstitutional on its face,” a federal judge ruled, ordering state education officials not to take steps to enforce it and to notify all local school boards in the state of his decision.

What K12 leaders should know about 2024 election results

For district leaders, the implications are clear: remain engaged with your communities, foster transparency in decision-making and align initiatives with public values.

Chicago Is running out of money. Its teachers union wants 9% raises anyway

At the end of the last school year, with the teacher contract expiring, the union released an extensive list of demands, asking for even more staffing and a minimum of 9% annual raises for the next four years. But over the last few months, the budget reality has started to hit home.

Knox County Schools passes proposals on anti-discrimination policy language, clothing center

Knox County Schools decided to move the daily operations of the school district's clothing center under the "School Culture Department," a decision that came after controversy across the community. A resolution proposed by board members calls for the clothing center's assets to be removed by the end of the year, at its Cedar Bluff location.

Could Massachusetts AI cheating case push schools to refocus on learning?

A Massachusetts family is awaiting a judge’s ruling in a federal lawsuit that could determine their son’s future. To a few observers, it could also push educators to limit the use of generative artificial intelligence in school. To others, it’s simply a case of helicopter parents gone wild.

Misinformation is pervasive—not invincible. Teachers are helping students learn to adapt.

There is no precise accounting of media literacy classes. But they appear to be growing more common as teachers feel compelled to help students distinguish fact from fiction. Students’ ability to do so can shape their everyday actions and relationships. But this year’s presidential election, which has generated a seemingly endless stream of doctored images and out-of-context video clips, has given these lessons more urgency

Schools are banning Crocs in 12 different states

A growing number of school districts are banning the footwear, citing safety concerns. School districts in more than twelve states have banned Crocs from being worn at school. Now part of this has to do with a social media trend, where kids have been taping themselves tripping in Crocs.

Maryland schools must now share information on students charged with serious crimes

School leaders were previously allowed, but not required, to share such information with other schools. Tuesday’s emergency action changed one word—from “may” to “shall”—in the policy on sharing records of students charged with “reportable offenses,” which include serious criminal offenses such as murder, arson and armed carjacking.

3 reasons students are confident voters this election

Gen Z has been doing their research, and they've identified three of their top concerns this election season.